Matt Hewson
A Geelong cycling commuter says he has been frustrated by council’s lack of response to the safety issues of recently installed bike lanes on Gheringhap St and Moorabool St.
The bike lanes, part of the City of Greater Geelong’s Building Better Bike Connections project, have been a point of contention in the community since their announcement in 2019, with concerns raised over the safety of cyclists.
The cyclist, who wished to remain anonymous for professional reasons, said members of the cycling community were “petrified” of using the lanes.
“Every cyclist I talk to is quite terrified every time they use the lanes,” he said.
“I ride to work and I find that I’m nearly hit by cars every second day. It’s pretty bad.
“So I tried to contact the council, emailing all the councillors in March and addressing my concerns about the safety of the lanes and asking what their perspectives were on it and what they were doing about it.
“I got a couple of emails back, they basically said the public’s been given the information, try to keep safe.”
The council’s website has links to an independent safety assessment on the lanes and council’s response to possible safety issues, with the Moorabool/Lt Fyans St and Kilgour St/Gheringhap St intersections of particular concern.
The cyclist, who had perused the safety assessment and response, said the council was only interested in “band-aid solutions,” noting how potentially effective improvements suggested in the assessment were to be “monitored” for “conflicts and near-misses”.
“We’re a city that’s addicted to cars, I suppose, and I guess the council represents that,” he said.
“It’s poorly designed, and designed for cars. I think the council’s nervous of the backlash if they try to do something that’s more progressive, that they’ll get shut down.”
City of Greater Geelong director of city services Guy Wilson-Browne said improvements to the bike lanes were ongoing.
“We have used this assessment to introduce additional measures to address possible safety risks,” Mr Wilson-Browne said.
“This includes extra signage and line markings at the intersection of Moorabool and Little Fyans streets that raise awareness of the bi-directional bike lanes.
“Further mitigations will be completed as we support all of the recommendations contained in the assessment.
“We are continuing to monitor traffic conditions and are responding to feedback by making improvements wherever possible.”
Mr Wilson-Browne said the council was committed to the safety of cyclists and pedestrians and the promotion of cycling.
“The separated bike lanes and new pedestrian crossings aim to encourage active transport and make it safer and easier for people to ride or walk,” he said.
“Car parking changes and safer speeds will increase safety for all road users.”
